trait

[treyt, trey]

noun

1. a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature.

   bad traits of character.

   Synonyms: property, attribute, mark, peculiarity

2. a pen or pencil stroke.

3. a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality.

   a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.

trait

/ treɪ, treɪt /

noun

1. a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing

2. rare,  a touch or stroke

trait

1. A genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French: literally, “something drawn,” from Latin tractus; tract ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

C16: from French, from Old French: a pulling, from Latin tractus , from trahere to drag

Example Sentences

Matsumoto sketches his main characters in a few quick strokes, content to indicate their ages along with a physical feature, a personality trait, or an aspect of dress.

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What do you think is the most important trait in a manager?

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People who adhere to routines to reach their goals, whether it be to run 26 miles or learn a new language, are likely to have the traits you seem to want in a partner.

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Many digital natives exhibit autistic traits like difficulty reading social cues and communicating.

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The filmmaker was drawn to one trait in particular: “The eyes of Jacob were incredibly soulful and incredibly profound, and he had a purity and a certain innocence,” Del Toro says.

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Related Words

• attribute 
• character 
• feature 
• habit 
• idiosyncrasy 
• manner 
• oddity 
• peculiarity 
• quality 
• quirk 
• trick 
• virtue